Access All Areas Winter Issue | Page 28

ANOTHER EVENTFUL Protec reflects on 2018 and gives us Protec’s award winning robots playing darts at Gitex Technology week Protec started 2018 with a big announcement and an even bigger vision for the year ahead. The Protec group expanded to include Protec European Events based in the UK and has extended its global reach to include events this past year as far flung as Rwanda. Also, opening an office and warehouse in Saudi Arabia to offer their clients a service on their doorstep means a significant growth in resources to avail of the burgeoning events industry there. We spoke to Stephen Lakin about some of the highlights of 2018 so far. “2018 has been an incredible year with a wide variety of outstanding events that we were delighted to be a part of. Some moments that stand out are seeing our dart playing robots on a stand at GITEX garnering so much media attention, helping our client bring together 400,000 EDM fans at Unite with Tomorrowland, delivering an opening ceremony to remember for the MENA Special Olympics, to watching our client relationships strengthen and our global reach expand with our European branch – it’s all been incredible. But, I think it is the industry awards we received this year recognising all these great achievements and inspiring and encouraging us to push the boundaries of event technology even further that stands out the most. It is especially impressive how ‘Protec European Events’ was awarded ‘AV Production, Staging & Rental Company of the Year’ at this year’s long standing AV Awards ceremony – what an amazing achievement from our team during their first year in operation! We also picked up several awards in the Middle East for outstanding event technology, project manager of the year and I myself picked up the AV Industry Recognition Award, which was very humbling. This peer and industry recognition certainly inspires us to be even more innovative next year and we already have a few surprises in the pipeline!” – Stephen Lakin, CEO & Founder, Protec Group. Protec European Events winning the AV Company of the Year award Protec clients’ words speak volumes about their reputation and professionalism. “ Our goal is to bring people from all walks of life, countries, backgrounds and unite them as one with the power of music. That is exactly what UNITE with Tomorrowland did once again and we are very happy with the feedback. It is with the help of strong partners like Protec that make this concept such a huge success in the UAE.” – Barry Pavic, Director, Envie Events Uniting the crowds at Tomorrowland “ I have two words that come to mind when I think of the Protec team, ‘professionalism personified’ – they have creative ideas, technical agility and are flexible even under “show” pressure. We have a great working relationship with them, they understand our business, they know the personalities, and our goals are aligned – we make both our companies successful – now that’s true partnership.” – Evelyn Truter, Marketing Programme & Project Manager, Xerox International Operations